If you know someone who is anxious, you probably already know that it can be a severe emotional disturbance and leave the person suffering from it feeling tired and helpless. Fortunately, there is much that can be done to help a person cope with and treat anxiety.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Learning How to Help
Step 1. Learn the causes of anxiety
Increase knowledge regarding the causes of anxiety. It will help you to gain a new perspective and understanding regarding when your help may be needed. You can ask him if he has a past problem or medical condition, and if he has anything to say.
- Although the exact cause of anxiety disorders is not fully understood, factors such as painful and traumatic life experiences and certain genetic traits increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.
- In addition, anxious people sometimes have medical conditions such as, for example, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, asthma, premenstrual syndrome, or thyroid problems.
Step 2. Learn about the different types of anxiety
There are several types of anxiety disorders with different causes. Try to understand the type of anxiety she has so you can help her more appropriately.:
- Agoraphobia. This type refers to the anxiety of being in a place where a person may become trapped or lose control.
- Anxiety caused by a medical condition. This type occurs as a result of medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, or thyroid problems. You may be able to reduce her anxiety if you help with her medical efforts (for example, if she forgets to take her medication, you can remind her).
- Generalized anxiety disorder. This type represents people who feel excessively anxious about daily life.
- Anxiety related to drug use or as a result of stopping drug use. This type occurs because of the use of narcotics. You should find out if the anxiety is due to drug use or to stop using drugs. You can advise him to consult a doctor so that he can stop completely and recover.
- Panic disorder. This type represents people who feel very intense anxiety and/or fear that can last up to several minutes. They can include difficulty breathing, heart palpitations (palpitations), and feelings of fear of danger or harm.
- Social anxiety disorder. This type involves an exaggerated fear of social interaction. A person may be very anxious about himself, very easily embarrassed, or afraid of making mistakes in social situations.
Step 3. Remember how it feels to be anxious
Feeling anxious is not a pleasant experience. One way to help is to understand the feelings of the anxious person so that you can make them feel comfortable specifically, depending on the symptoms they are showing. Symptoms of anxiety include:
- Feeling nervous.
- Feeling helpless.
- Felt there would be danger.
- Feeling weak.
- Feel tired.
- It's hard to concentrate.
Step 4. Listen carefully
Everyone needs different help. Perhaps the best way to find out how to help him is to ask him directly. There are various things you can do to become a good listener:
- Keep your statement neutral. For example, say something like, “So, that's it,” or, “Okay.”
- Adjust the statement to the atmosphere of your conversation. For example, if he's very upset, try to make your "So," you say sound sympathetic and reassuring, rather than indifferent or happy (both feelings are at odds with his mood).
- Ask lots of open-ended questions. If you want to know more about how to help her, instead of just asking, "Are you worried?" You can ask open-ended questions like, “What situations or things usually make you anxious?”
- Watch the person closely, trying to clear your mind of any worries and monitoring only the person's thoughts and feelings.
Step 5. Empathize
Empathy refers to the ability to understand another person's emotions and see things from that person's point of view by imagining what that person might think or feel. There are various ways to empathize with anxious people:
- Focus your attention on the person.
- Keep in mind the values and experiences as individuals that we share. Remember that we have a lot in common when it comes to pain, fear, and anxiety. It can make it easier for you to see things from his point of view.
- Hold your judgment for a while and consider the person's point of view.
- Share an experience that he can understand, but do it in moderation so that it doesn't overwhelm the conversation. The key is to show the person that you understand the experience.
Step 6. Observe anxious people
Learn to be aware of visible signs of anxiety so you can tell when the person is feeling anxious. That way, you can help him or calm him down when he notices that he's depressed. Signs of anxiety include:
- Nervous.
- Breathing.
- Sweating.
- shaking.
Step 7. Always remember negative and positive impacts
Always try to keep in mind that if you're not getting too much out of an activity, but it makes a friend or partner feel anxious, it might be a good idea to stop doing the activity.
However, you shouldn't let the worryer experience too much anxiety, as this doesn't encourage the person to change
Part 2 of 2: Navigating Relationships
Step 1. Encourage positive healthy behavior
If he suffers from social anxiety and is attending a party, but can get along well, tell him that he is making the party even more festive and compliment some of his remarks.
It might help him realize that interacting with other people in a social context is not so bad and he can be successful in social interactions
Step 2. Avoid criticizing unhealthy behavior based on anxiety
If you reprimand him for his anxious behavior, it may only make his anxiety worse. That's the opposite of your goal.
- If you're frustrated by it, instead of criticizing it, try to leave the room and come back in when you've calmed down.
- Instead of focusing on the negative side of his current behavior, try to focus on the positives that could arise if he changed his behavior. For example, if he's avoiding social situations, instead of being upset, try saying something like, "Think about the networking opportunities at tonight's party. I used to make a lot of friends because of events like this.”
Step 3. Suggest treatment
You can help someone who is anxious by telling them that it would be more helpful for them to treat their stress. You can tell him that many people have successfully treated their anxiety by engaging in psychotherapy, taking medication, or doing both.
- Remember that the treatment you offer depends on the type of anxiety and its cause.
- For example, if he's worried about drug abuse, you can suggest that he enroll in rehab. However, if he has social anxiety, you can advise him to seek treatment from a mental health professional.
Step 4. Prepare for a panic attack
Certain types of anxiety can cause a person to suffer from panic attacks. Panic attacks can cause a person to have difficulty breathing or palpitations, and to think they might be having a heart attack or losing control. Panic attacks can be very scary for anxious people and yourself if you are not prepared.
- If he suffers a panic attack, he will most likely not have the energy to move, respond, or think normally. Instead of feeling upset or worried, you can reassure him that he is suffering from a panic attack, but that it will soon pass.
- However, if you are not sure that your symptoms are not the result of a panic attack, take the necessary medical precautions, such as calling 118 or 119.
Step 5. Relax
Take him somewhere nice and quiet in the afternoon or spend some time relaxing in your home.
